The Brandywine River Restoration Trust (BRRT) has started removing part of the DuPont Experimental Station Dam, also called Dam 6, as part of a multi-year effort to restore fish passage on the Brandywine River. Kleinschmidt Associates provided engineering, permitting, and design support for the project.
BRRT, which aims to restore historic American Shad runs to the river, hired Kleinschmidt to identify the most effective solution for fish passage at Dam 6. The firm conducted a feasibility study, prepared construction drawings, coordinated utility crossings, and consulted on permits, including with the State Historic Preservation Office.
Kleinschmidt designed a solution that repurposes part of the dam for shoreline stabilization, maintains a downstream utility crossing, and improves fish passage. The firm also conducted hydraulic analysis, wetland delineations, and stakeholder consultations to support an environmentally responsible approach.
“The excellent work of Kleinschmidt Associates over the past several years has been critical to the removal of Dam 6,” said Jim Shanahan, Executive Director of BRRT. “We could not have done it without them.”
“BRRT’s passion for restoring fish passage and reducing flooding on the Brandywine is evident in this project, and I look forward to seeing what they can accomplish on the Brandywine in the next decade,” said Tyler Kreider, Senior Fisheries Engineer at Kleinschmidt Associates.
Dam 6 was originally built in 1839 by E.I. du Pont de Nemours to power mills. Though inactive for decades, it contributed to flooding at DuPont’s Experimental Station after heavy rain. Its removal reduces flood risk and restores ecological connectivity for migratory fish.
BRRT plans to introduce educational initiatives, including interpretive panels, guided tours, a booklet, a website, and public presentations to highlight the river’s industrial history.
Kleinschmidt’s work at Dam 6 is part of a larger strategy. The firm has also collaborated with BRRT on assessments at four downstream dams to support long-term restoration of migratory fish runs throughout the Brandywine.
